More solar funding, Government announces

Seventeen proposals for innovative solar power projects have been selected to receive Government funding, the DTI has announced this week.

Recently appointed Energy Minister Mike O'Brien has chosen a variety of businesses from around the UK, including a Scottish MoD building, a university in Wales and a wildlife centre in Liverpool, to receive funding worth £1.4 million.

The DTI's decision will also enable Edinburgh Prison in Scotland to become the first prison in the UK to install solar power technology.

"We are delighted to be the first prison to be awarded funding," a spokesperson for the Scottish Prison Service told edie. "This will enable us to develop a solar energy project and be friendly to the environment by using renewable energy sources."

Developing the solar power industry in the UK through Government funding will help to take us a step closer to reaching our renewable energy targets of 10% by 2010, Mr O'Brien pointed out.

"Solar power is one of the renewable energy sources of the future, and this latest round of successful applications is proof of its growing appeal throughout the country," he said. "The potential that solar power offers, even in our climate, is substantial."

This funding round supports medium to high scale solar electric power installations (5-100 kWp) under the Government's Major Photovoltaics (PV) Demonstration Programme, and will form part of the £40 million that the Government has pledged to spend on PV funding projects.